Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Super Auto with .357 | 158gr | Norma SPFN bullet and 57 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above.
Important Notice: DO NOT go below Minimum Charge or above Maximum Charge. Since we have no control over the equipment and components used, any responsibility and liability for the results achieved is rejected.
Only powders/loads that match the current filter criteria are displayed: max pressure of a load ≤ 90% of max. standardized pressure, fill rate ≥ 60% and propellant combustion ≥ 80%. Use the sliders above the tables to adjust these thresholds.
Charge: Powder weight in grains. Start with the minimum load and work up carefully.
FR (Fill Rate): Case fill as a percentage. Values above 100% mean compressed loads.
MaxP / %: Maximum chamber pressure in bar and as a percentage of the standardized maximum for this caliber.
V(0): Muzzle velocity in feet per second (fps) at the standardized barrel length.
z (Powder Burn): Estimated propellant combustion percentage at bullet exit.
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Max Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,124 psi | 90% | 1033 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,139 psi | 90% | 961 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,543 psi | 83% | 988 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,617 psi | 89% | 1093 fps | 93.6% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,414 psi | 88% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,036 psi | 84% | 846 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,443 psi | 88% | 892 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,298 psi | 88% | 932 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,037 psi | 87% | 965 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,543 psi | 86% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,225 psi | 88% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,601 psi | 86% | 965 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,007 psi | 84% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,660 psi | 89% | 1129 fps | 93% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,282 psi | 85% | 938 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,035 psi | 81% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,863 psi | 90% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,500 psi | 85% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 96% | 27,789 psi | 83% | 968 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,601 psi | 83% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,007 psi | 84% | 876 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,341 psi | 88% | 1079 fps | 96.9% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,181 psi | 84% | 1063 fps | 97.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,068 psi | 39% | 719 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,414 psi | 88% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,586 psi | 83% | 961 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,950 psi | 90% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,326 psi | 85% | 991 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,209 psi | 82% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,688 psi | 83% | 965 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,704 psi | 89% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,950 psi | 90% | 932 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,993 psi | 87% | 1060 fps | 99.9% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,747 psi | 89% | 1076 fps | 98.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,556 psi | 80% | 971 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,053 psi | 36% | 722 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,746 psi | 83% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,268 psi | 85% | 961 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,153 psi | 90% | 1188 fps | 98.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,776 psi | 86% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 26,803 psi | 80% | 961 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,109 psi | 87% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,428 psi | 88% | 892 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,052 psi | 90% | 1073 fps | 97.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,572 psi | 86% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,602 psi | 89% | 1148 fps | 95% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,356 psi | 88% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,805 psi | 89% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,761 psi | 86% | 1093 fps | 89.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,500 psi | 85% | 1076 fps | 98.3% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,224 psi | 85% | 961 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,018 psi | 72% | 863 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,023 psi | 90% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,674 psi | 86% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,673 psi | 83% | 1063 fps | 98.3% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,008 psi | 87% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,849 psi | 89% | 1030 fps | 100% |
Start Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,420 psi | 55% | 866 fps | 96.5% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,479 psi | 61% | 843 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,114 psi | 48% | 820 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 84% | 19,783 psi | 59% | 935 fps | 87% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,714 psi | 71% | 951 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,597 psi | 68% | 787 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,872 psi | 66% | 807 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,551 psi | 59% | 810 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,813 psi | 62% | 863 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,244 psi | 49% | 823 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,306 psi | 64% | 942 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,522 psi | 59% | 846 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,951 psi | 36% | 755 fps | 93.3% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 18,884 psi | 57% | 948 fps | 85.2% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,623 psi | 56% | 814 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,743 psi | 71% | 981 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,273 psi | 49% | 856 fps | 97.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,376 psi | 55% | 823 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,052 psi | 33% | 712 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,696 psi | 59% | 873 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,622 psi | 53% | 748 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,930 psi | 66% | 968 fps | 93.3% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,308 psi | 73% | 1007 fps | 96.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,063 psi | 18% | 522 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,696 psi | 59% | 889 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,135 psi | 75% | 928 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,811 psi | 56% | 889 fps | 99.7% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,490 psi | 46% | 804 fps | 99.9% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,925 psi | 48% | 837 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,941 psi | 54% | 833 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,145 psi | 57% | 837 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,089 psi | 66% | 840 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,945 psi | 69% | 974 fps | 98.9% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,730 psi | 77% | 1024 fps | 97% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,914 psi | 63% | 899 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,932 psi | 18% | 528 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,040 psi | 42% | 827 fps | 97.7% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,743 psi | 74% | 922 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 13,373 psi | 40% | 892 fps | 86.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,766 psi | 47% | 814 fps | 96.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,058 psi | 57% | 856 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,246 psi | 55% | 850 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,250 psi | 73% | 837 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,908 psi | 39% | 771 fps | 85.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,318 psi | 55% | 860 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 17,129 psi | 51% | 935 fps | 86% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,652 psi | 56% | 896 fps | 97.7% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,984 psi | 51% | 850 fps | 98.4% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 25,150 psi | 75% | 1037 fps | 87.3% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,359 psi | 43% | 830 fps | 89.1% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,725 psi | 59% | 860 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,964 psi | 30% | 643 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,724 psi | 53% | 873 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,911 psi | 48% | 837 fps | 97.4% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,314 psi | 37% | 778 fps | 86.6% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,512 psi | 76% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,606 psi | 47% | 820 fps | 99.6% |
* not dangerous but load has suboptimal powder burnt with possible characteristics such as extensive muzzle flash or inaccurate loads.
² fill rate low - you might want to consider using a filler to ensure proper ignition.
ᴾ possible press load - work up slowly to this load while watching for signs of excessive pressure.
This overview compares 57 powders for .38 Super Auto loaded with the .357 | 158gr | Norma SPFN. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,188 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 719 fps to 1,188 fps. ADI AP 100 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 23 of the 57 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (230 MPa), the top charges use 36–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. ADI AP 100, Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 reach 100 % fill or more at maximum charge, so these are compressed loads: they need a long drop tube to seat cleanly and react sensitively to the case capacity of your own brass lot. As outliers, ADI AP 100, Alliant POWER PISTOL, Somchem S221 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Accurate No. 2, Accurate Solo 1000, Accurate Solo 1250 stay subsonic at start load. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.